Black Rock Mountain State Park

Nestled in the far northeastern corner of Georgia, Black Rock Mountain State Park is truly a standout destination—its high elevations, sweeping vistas, dense forest cover, and excellent trail system make it a top pick for fall-colors, hiking and nature-escapes. The park charges a $5 per-vehicle entry fee. A full day here rewards you: there’s a visitor center with souvenirs and map/info, restrooms and parking are available, and many trails of different lengths and difficulties invite you to explore. The signature trail, the 2.2-mile loop Tennessee Rock Trail, winds up to the park’s highest elevation point and along the Eastern Continental Divide, delivering outstanding views and a satisfying moderate workout. But the park offers more: ## The short but steep Ada‑Hi Falls Trail (about 0.25–0.4 miles one-way) descends into a rhododendron-filled cove and ends at a modest waterfall. It’s an easy “quick hit” and great for families or anyone wanting something light. ## For something more ambitious, the James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail is about 7.2 miles loop, significantly more strenuous, crossing ridges, dips, streams, and providing a full‐on backcountry feel. ## There are also easier connectors/trail loops, such as the 0.85-mile Black Rock Lake Trail (easy walk around a small lake) which makes for a relaxing alternative. What I appreciated most: the mix of options makes it adaptable—whether you’re after a longer hike or just a casual walk with views. The fall colors here are excellent, the forest density gives you a strong sense of being “in the woods”, and the overlooks are just spectacular. Plus, its proximity (15-20 miles) to places like Tallulah Falls Beach/river adds flexibility for a full nature day. The visitor center and amenities make the experience smoother. In short: if you’re looking for a standout fall outing in north Georgia, Black Rock Mountain State Park delivers in scenery, variety and accessibility.

Georgia's highest elevation state park has amazing views and lots of beautiful hiking and mountain biking trails! The camping area appears to be open year-round, which is incredible. The Ada -hi Falls is really pretty, but only aftersome rain, otherwise it's basically a trickle. Still plenty to see and do at Black Rock! Perfect place to take your dog!

Beautiful Park at high altitude. Stunning views and have sitting areas as well. The park has a few moderate trails with connector trails. Must visit during fall (Oct last week to Nov beginning) for breathtaking clicks. It has a visitor center, rest rooms and good number of parking.

Went with my girls and mom to see the breathtaking fall leaf colors but wasn't yet to it's peak but the view was still absolutely gorgeous. The parking at the top makes it so easy to have a picnic without hiking up. The park was clean and family pet friendly. There’s a playground for 2yr - 5yrs, clean bathrooms and camping sites. There are short and long trails at the Black Rock Mountain. We had hit traffic on our way there and we found healthy snacks at the visitor center. We topped the day off with dinner at Chick-fil-A since it is close by. Black Rock Mountain can be a one day getaway.

Beautiful overlook! The rangers are friendly and the campgrounds are always lovely with lots of space. The cabins are nice also. I’ve never seen the bathrooms not clean, they have good up keep. My family has been coming here for years and it’s always great, it’s an amazing get away and relax place with large camp sites and plenty of places to walk.

A beautiful place in North Georgia could easily spend a few days here. Good hiking trails. Great scenic views. Good camp grounds. Very helpful and informed staff. Both the volunteers and park rangers. They have great knowledge. Visitor center and store is well stocked There is also a small porch at the back of the store that provides a great view. Plenty of picnic tables and shelters. Good clean restrooms .

It is Georgia's highest elevation State Park. Nice Visitors Center and easily accessible bathrooms. It has nothing cottages and camping areas. Great views but it was fairly foggy the morning we were there.

We did the Tennessee Rock Trail with our children and dog and thoroughly enjoyed it. The views were beautiful and the trail was challenging enough not to be boring, but also not strenuous.

Run to Black Rock Mountain State Park! From the moment we arrived at the visitor center, we enjoyed breathtaking views. The views throughout the park are epic and the hiking is superb. Jack the gentleman at the entrance was beyond helpful and likely saved us from our own demise. As we were wandering about, he kindly interjected and offered us a map along with some detailed instructions regarding the various trails. We then explored a few trails to include the Ada-Hi Falls Trail and the Tennessee Rock Trail. We enjoyed all the views but would recommend a walking stick. The guide shop at the visitor center has some great merchandise including many items from local businesses. Furthermore, the prices were fair.

What a beautiful campground, especially in October when the leaves are changing. Each reserved lot has access to electricity, a picnic table, and a nice fire pit. Dogs are more than welcome. In fact, most of the people there brought one or two dogs. The lots vary in size from canvas tent and car all the way to travel bus. It's great for a weekend trip away from the city noise!

Beautiful views and great trails. Gorgeous overlook. Trading post was really cool. Nice campground. Just very winding roads.

I can't give this less than 3 starts due to our beautiful sunrise this morning prior to our small hike we did but this morning was definitely not what I expected. My fiancé and I came here for the sunrise, we're staying at Tallulah Gorge campground, well it was close to 8am for the visitor center to open at Black Rock Mtn., next thing you know, this park manager comes flying into the parking lot (assuming he was running late for his shift) and my fiancé and I weren't even standing close to the door, he rudely asks "what do you need/want?!" I was thinking "whoa!!, that's kinda rude and uncalled for!" So my fiancé then says well we came up here to see the sunrise and maybe check out the visitor center, then the guy was like, well.. umm.. give me a couple minutes. Didn't even come out to let us know if we can come inside yet. There was another lady who was going inside with him and she told us we can finally come inside. Finally went inside, he wasn't very friendly at all, I didn't have my passport book to stamp in so I asked him and all he did was took a sticky note and put a stamp on it, wasn't very helpful with going over the map in case we had any questions or anything, he was not friendly at all. We don't understand what his deal was, all the other GSP's we've stayed at, we've never encountered any issues or problems. They all have been friendly/nice for the most of our trips we've taken in Ga. My fiancé finally got a call back from the regional manager and they are going to address the issue and hopefully something will be done. The views from the park were spectacular for sure but the customer service from the park manager could use some improving.

We ended up doing the Tennessee Rock Trail which was 2.3 miles. Beautiful walk, not too hard. The top was beautiful. We also walked the Springhouse/ Ada-hi falls trail to the main Ada-hi falls trail which there and back was 1.3 miles. Cute little waterfall, going back was a little tough because it was all uphill. We also went to the visitor center to enjoy the views of the overlook. Breathtaking.

This is my second review of the park. We came here for Fathers Day weekend actually intending to camp near Highlands, NC but then the call of GA's highest park just beckoned us in. We drove up the road not expecting to even find any spots. Highlands was still another 40 min drive North. But low and behold there were 3 spots remaining. It turned out to be the right decision. Unpacked. Set up the tent and hiked the Ada-Hi Falls Trail then back up to Springhouse. All told about 2 miles with 500 ft of gains on a dry evening. We purchased a couple of bundles of wood which was moist so it required a lot of local wood to heat up before it would actually take fire. Two bundles was enough for a couple of hours of fun. We dined on cold cuts, fruit, cheese and shared a bottle of wine. At 9:30pm we noticed Daddy had not packed blankets or sleeping bags. Doh! Thankfully, only 15 minutes away was a Walmart Super Center open till 11pm. 30-45 mins later I discovered the State Park gates had closed at 10pm! The gates were still another 1.2 miles from Camp. Nicole went to the Camp Host and who gave me the code over the phone to unlock the automatic gate. Phew! (Always an adventure) The night was perfect for sleeping. Temps got into the 50s. However, my foam roll was just too hard on me. I'll have to figure out something else. It's only the second time this year I've camped and it's been years since then. Still working out the kinks. The camp neighbors were great. We had a fantastic time. The next morning we packed up and hiked around Black Rock Mt Lake before heading to Sky Land to summit Rabun Bald.

This is a neat Georgia State Park. Black Rock Mountain State Park is the highest state park in Georgia. Our visit centered around several days of camping and hiking. FIrst, the visitor center is located at the top of a long twisty road. Very helpful personnel here. Incredible views from the visitor center. Camping. We had a group of 10 folks that camped at the "pioneer campground". It was nicely setup with a cabin, shelters, fire pit, water, primitive toilets. Fine for a couple of nights in the woods. Hiking. We hiked the 2.2 mile "Tenessee Rock Trail" and the 7.2 mile "James Edmonds Trail". Both were great. My picture of the waterfall is along the James Edmonds trail. Also did the short walk around the lake. Small parking fee ($5) but it is worth it. Enjoy!

The road leading up this mountain is windy. There's a small parking area with some nice views near the top, and picnic areas. Driving farther leads to a turnabout with some nice looking cabins. It was very breezy at the top of the mountain. I spent a little time perusing the trails, but wasn't that enthused. A site near the bottom of the mountain held an artificial lake on a gravel road with a trail encircling it. Most of the parking areas required a Georgia state park pass. It's nice nature, but it didn't grab me the way some other parks in the area have.

A very nice place to see the mountains. We were visiting the mountains looking for a riot of colors that defines the change of seasons and this is where we found them. You have to drive up the mountain which can be a real drive up as the Visitors center is near the top. It is worth the drive as the view is excellent. There are several parking spots in a long parking area with a covered viewing area near the end of the lot for people to appreciate the view. The area between that area and the gift shop/visitor's center building is an open area of about 200 feet that provides an excellent view of the trees below. There is a nice outdoor viewing area with a solid railing looking out over the mountain. If you want to be inside, the visitors' center offers the same spectacular views. If you are into hiking, several trails have trailheads in the local area. You can obtain a map from the very pleasant people in the center. I would recommend this as a good place for fellow travelers to see the mountain. There is the bonus that if you want to see the Foxfire area it is on the way to or from this site.

I really enjoyed hiking in this State Park. Fyi, five dollars to park. Hemlock Falls trail was my kind of hike, moderate, with the rushing river all along the way to the Falls, with a large pool of water. We also did Ada-hi Falls and the Lake trail as well. Ada-hi was short, easy, and pretty. The Lake trail, flat, picturesque, and easy. Everything was soooo GREEN!

We've camped at Black Rock several times and always enjoyed it. The scenery is amazing and there's no shortage of things to do in the area. Highly recommend.

Great place to visit, hike, camp and the cabins were fabulous. The people were nice and helpful.

Black Rock Mountain State Park is phenomenal. The winding drive up the mountain is a thrill in itself, with a couple of superb overlooks to increase anticipation. And even the gift shop has tremendous views! You have the perfect reason to grab a souvenir. If at all possible, plan to visit the park on a clear day so that you can drink in the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. Black Rock is the highest state park in Georgia at 3,640 feet. However! It's not highest point in the Peach State. That honor goes to Brasstown Bald which has an elevation of 4,784 feet. It's $5 to enter. The fellow taking the fee was really friendly, as was the lady in the shop. The lot where we parked to start hiking looks like it could fill up easily since it's home to the trailheads for both the Tennessee Rock Trail (2.2 miles) and the James E. Edmond Trail (7.2 miles). The Tennessee Rock Trail is a loop of moderate difficulty and takes you to the top of Black Rock Mountain. You can see North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee!  The ADA Hi Falls Trail was not lengthy (0.25 mile) but was a leg murderer. Hello, stairs and stairs. Expect some puffing and huffing. But the waterfall at the end is neat and your reward. Some reviews seem down on it but I thought it was more than satisfactory. There are also two other trails, Black Rock Lake Trail and Normal Campbell Cove Trail, both under 1 mile. Hope to tackle the James E. Edmond Trail my next visit!

Beautiful state park. We visited while staying for the weekend less than 5 miles away. The drive up is a long and winding road, but I loved it. My wife, not so much. The views from the top are spectacular, even with a partially cloudy day. The visitor center was open for business, but limiting capacity, so be courteous of others who wish to enter and don't dilly dally. Highest state park in GA at almost 4,000 feet. There's an overlook a few hundred feet down too as you descend the mountain. Worth a stop if there's parking. If no parking is available, don't be that guy ... move along.

This is a great hike! The drive up to the trail is steep and winding. Once you get there it is awesome. I did the shorter 2.5 mile loop which was pretty rugged. I am going for the 7 mile loop next time. The visitor center at the top is well stocked with gifts and has some nature displays. Plenty of warnings about bears but I did not see one. I need to get a bear bell.

Black Rock Mountain state park has a lot of nice views especially during the peak fall season when you can see color transitioning of the tree leaves. It's cost about $5 to get in. It's not too difficult of trail for most people. Definitely bring supplies and dress properly for the occasion. The right shoes here will guarantee you not accidentally rolling an ankle. You get really nice scenic views as you trek up the mountain. The change in elevation can be a bit for some people. The point itself is only about 3000+ feet. Getting up to the summit isn't that difficult. It will probably take you about an hour and half or more depending on the route you take or your pace. They have several trails to choose from with different views, distances, and levels of difficulty. This park is popular with novices and those who are more experienced as well. It can suck though when the weather is not in you favor. Keep that in mind and check the forecast ahead of time. Other than that it's a good a trail for beginners with nice views, definitely worth checking out if you can.

Our four-person family stayed in Cottage 1 for a long weekend. Black Rock Mtn is absolutely stunning and we would highly recommend it for any active, outdoorsy family. The cottages are snug, but comfortable. They have a kitchen with some amenities, and the bathrooms are utilitarian. The showers are hot and there are plenty of towels provided. There is a strong emphasis on being environmentally conscious, with signage posted throughout the cottage. The views from the back deck are stunning, especially at night. The cottages are more expensive per night than other Georgia state parks, but you do get a 10% discount for all Friends of Georgia members. There are many walking and hiking trails throughout the park. The trails are well maintained, however visitors should be very mindful of the trail ratings. We did a 7.2 mile loop that was very, very strenuous. It was marked as very difficult, and we thought that was very accurate, even for experienced hikers. The other trails were also accurately marked. This is a great state park, and we would highly recommend it.

Visited here just as winter was about to wrap up for the year. For a state park, it is a bit touristy and over-developed for its size. For those who want an easily accessible view of the mountains and simple trails, this is a great place. What stood out to me is the Black Rock Lake- it is absolutely beautiful and the water is crystal clear. Personally, I prefer to be away from groups of people and enjoy the calm of nature, and it was a bit too crowded there for me. Overall, it is a well-kept park and a nice spot to spend a few hours.

Best park in GA! Prove me wrong! Ok they are all great but this one is the highest one in Ga. Went up all the way to the eastern continental divide. You can do 7 mile hike or park your car at the visitor center and walk about 1/4 mile on the roadway and take a cut off trail to the top. We had limited time so we did the short cut... don't judge lol. Next time I want to do the entire hike. It is a really gorgeous park with many very scenic overlooks. The rangers and folks at the visitor centers are great. If you have a little one, they can become junior rangers, just ask about it. I want to come back and do some camping, they have cabins and camping. This trip we only were there for the day, but I am looking to head back! See ya soon Black rock... not to be confused with burning man for any burners out there.....:)

Wonderful used with a super friendly staff. We went on a few of the nature trails and had a great time. Definitely worth the trip just to see the incredible views. Luckily we didn't see any bears but there are several signs warning visitors to be aware. There are some cabins at the end of the road that seem to have incredible views, and we may stay there in the future.

This was our 3rd stay at Black Rock. We LOVE the cabins and highly recommend booking one, especially as the pet-friendly options have been expanded. Cabin 10, where we've stayed all 3 trips, is very well outfitted. It even has an electric fry pan and a hand mixer! There are only 2 downers for this particular site, which aren't true for most of the other sites---the fire pit is on a slope and difficult to sit around and the view is obstructed due to the positioning of the cabin. Cabins 1-6 seem to have significantly better views. Black Rock is the kind of park if you are looking to unwind and relax. It doesn't have a swimming beach, boat rentals, archery, or most of the bells and whistles of other state parks. What it does have is gorgeous mountain views, a peaceful easy lake trail, and some of the best state park cabins I've ever stayed in. It is also now open year round! There is no lodge and few amenities, with the visitors center closing at 5 and the trading post having limited hours, but the drive into town for essentials is very reasonable and the town is just darling. The cabins have solid wifi and cable tv. We were able to hook up a Fire Stick with no trouble. You can bring your own boat or may be able to rent one in the nearby town. One caution---the Ada-Hi Falls trail appeals because it is short, .25miles. Don't fall for it. It is incredibly steep, stairs most of the way except for the third that is a very tricky narrow walk (or, in my case, slip) down. The view at the end isn't worth the hike at all. If you are very fit and hike just to hike, you'll enjoy it; but, if seeing falls or having a relaxing hike are important to you, skip this one. Do the lake trail instead. Make sure to visit the visitors center. It has one of the most spectacular overlooks right outside AND has two viewing porches from inside. Absolutely the best views of the trip. Honestly, the views are better than Tallulah Gorge. We're already planning our next trip!

Tennessee Rock Trail was challenging and rewarding. Go left at the start of the loop if you're just hiking for a view.

What a great place to spend a few hours watching the sunrise or sunset. Spectacular panoramic views from the top of mountain coupled with numerous hiking trails. We have spent many hours here sometimes late into the night star watching after the sun sets. Being a Georgia State Park as always the facility's and amenities are second to none. Well worth the time to drive to the top of mountain when visiting the area.

Nice park. Not one of the larger state parks, but it has two outstanding hiking trails and some relatively well-secluded cottages that offer a great getaway experience. We stayed in cottage #5, a two bedroom cabin, which was plenty for the two of us. #5 is not the best of the ten available - the view off the porch is completely obscured by trees - but it had everything else we wanted and then some. Except wi-fi - but hey, we're roughing it, right? If we do this again, we'll try for cottages 1, 2 or 3. They have better views, it seems. Pick up the keys at the ranger station if checking in before 5 PM (somewhere else if after that). Drop off by 11 AM the morning you leave. Hiking is the name of the game here: Tennessee Rock Overlook trail - relatively short at 2.2 miles, but still one of the best trails in the state. Plenty of variation in the terrain, plenty of elevation change and just a very nice hike. I could do this one many times. It will take you to the top of Black Rock Mountain and the Tennessee Rock overlook, which is at a slightly lower elevation. The trailhead is at a large parking lot on the main park road. The lot serves both the Tennessee Rock and Edmonds trails. James Edmonds trail - at over 7 miles, this one is quite a hike. We didn't finish it, doing a couple miles from the main trailhead lot and part of the trail upslope from the lake. Lots of elevation changes. Great hiking. I recall hiking this one years ago and seeing a large, awesome expanse of fern forest. Didn't find that this time (although there's plenty of fern everywhere) but it's there somewhere. As with the Tennessee Rock Overlook trail, the Edmonds trail is one of the most enjoyable hikes in the state. Black Rock Lake trail - just under a mile long, this easy trail loops a very scenic lake. The trailhead has a dirt parking lot which you'll see as you come down the lake access road. The lot is unfriendly to low clearance vehicles (such as ours). However, if you continue past that lot, you'll shortly come to the lake itself with some boardwalks/docks that you can fish from. You can park there with no trouble. Really nice walk around the lake. Doesn't look like much of a fishing lake, but I have no idea, really. James Edmonds trail (northern part) - you'll find the trailhead for the steep northern portion of the Edmonds trail just up the road from the lake parking lot. There isn't a separate lot, so park at the lake. We only went up this trail a quarter mile or so before turning back. Ada Falls trail - this is a very short but steep trail that takes you down to the 'falls', which really are nothing more than some water sorta falling over a rock face. Along with some elevation change on the short dirt trail, there are about a hundred wooden steps. It's a nice walk to get your heart pumping but not too spectacular. After a day of hiking, we whipped up some strong margaritas (tequila, cointreau and fresh-squeezed lime juice) and had a blast playing Scrabble and Yahtzee . Both games were in the cottage - along with some dumb ones - but I wouldn't count on that. So if you like games, maybe bring your own. Nice park. I'll be back.

I've both hiked and camped at Black Rock Mountain State Park. This is one of my favorite for camping but be warned, depending on the year you may find yourself in the clouds with everything wet. I attended an Isuzu Vehicross meet here during the fall where we had 13 camping and several who showed up just for the day. That first night was fairly cold and the cloud layer descended soaking anyone who wasn't prepared for it. The campgrounds spiral down a road that's really meant more for cars than RVs. We had a blast. For day hikes, you really can't beat Black Rock. There's everything from a 1 mile easy hike (Lake Trail) to an intermediate (Tennessee Rock Overlook) at about 2.2 miles and a longish 7 mile James Edmond trail that will get your heart racing - you get some change in altitude and variation of scenery or vegetation with any of these. There's an Ada Falls trail that's mostly dirt and wooden stairs to see water falling over some rocks - not much to that last one. In all this is a great place to camp up in Clayton. When you get tired of it hit the Dillard House for some homestyle southern food.

My husband and I went camping here in our RV. The sites are well cared for, and it appears they have some long term residents there, as well as short term visitors. This is a beautiful park in the woods with electric and water with no wifi. Dogs are allowed, but check if your breed is one that is permitted in the campground. At each site there is a picnic table and fire ring. We were within a short walk to the garbage dump, as there was no pickup. There is a shop for souvenirs, but not really for essential foods. We were well stocked, so that was no problem. I am unable to walk distance so I brought my scooter with me, but the trails were too rugged for me to go. Despite that, we had a beautiful outdoor vacation and enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

Loved it here!! Such a great camp site!! Cant wait to go back! A couple of great trails right by the campsite as well! Its up a steep mountain but its conveniently close to the dollar general and grocery store for last minute camping needs!

The highest point in the state and a wonderful way to see it!! I went here thinking I was going to find just a scenic lookout but instead found numerous hiking trails, a great campground and some amazing view points. I started off with the ada hi waterfall trail which was a great hike because of the stairs if you like a challenge it's only 1/2 a mile but stairs at 8% grade make for just that. You will fill your legs burning by the end if you try taking this at a bit of a rapid pace :) I toured the campground and was really impressed with the layout and amenities but mostly of the camp host who was very friendly and welcoming. He made some other suggestions for my travels which turned out to be awesome stops.

We stayed in cottage 9 for three days and two nights. They had everything we could ever need for the stay, except for food, spices, soaps, and cleaning supplies. The queen beds were only on frames and had very little back support. Causing two people to dip to the center of the bed. We found it more comfortable when we each had our own bed. The outside of the cottage had so many spiders and spider webs. I know we are in nature, but it would have been nice to be able to look out through clean windows. We did see spiders in the bathroom, but didn't see any the bedrooms. Other than that, we enjoyed our stay and hikes. Will come back again.

I wanted my 1000th review to be on a place I genuinely loved, so what better review than of one of my more favorite state parks just for the views alone? Black Rock Mountain State Park holds the distinction of being the highest (in elevation) state park in Georgia, resting at 3640 feet. One could argue that someone not intending on hiking at all could get a great deal out of Black Rock Mountain just by going to the visitor's center. I don't use the word amazing often, to hold onto the weight of that word, but it fits the views at the visitor's center quite well. All the way down the trail you'll come across two blueridge mountain overlooks where you can park on the side of the winding road, and sit for a bit. There's really not an ugly spot here. If hiking IS why you're here, Black Rock Mountain has a few trails for you. All are round trip distances and include: The tennessee rock trail: 2.2 mi The James E. Edmonds Trail: 7.2 mi The Ada-Hi Falls Trail: 0.5 mi The Black rock Lake Trail: 0.85 mi. The "hidden falls" trail off of the black rock Lake trail: 0.9 mi Sadly because I got to Black rock Mountain a little too late, I did not attempt the James E. Edmonds Trail, which staff mentioned you should allow 4 to 5 hours to complete the strenuous trail. James E. Edmonds can be picked up either just below the visitor's center, or near the Black rock lake Trail. Staff mentioned that before you even try to challenge the 7.2 mile James E. Edmonds trail, that you should first give the Tennessee Rock trail a shot, and if you found it easy, you were probably ready for James. Again, due to my timing, I decided to not hike the Tennessee Rock trail, so I can't really speak on it, outside of it being accessible just below the Visitor's center as well. Before reaching the first stop sign from the center. The Ada-Hi Falls Trail, if coming from the visitor's center, is reached by coming to the first stop sign below the visitor's center and taking a right. You'll see Ada-Hi marked. Partially wooden stairs, partially steep natural soil/root trail, the elevation changes over 200 feet in 0.25 miles. I must admit, the waterfalls were severely underwhelming when I visited, but I have seen photos of Ada-Hi after rains, and it was worth that hike. Is Ada-Hi tough? Well that depends on you. If you've tackled the likes of Amicalola falls, Cloudland canyon or Tallulah Gorge state parks and their respective staircase trails without difficulty, you're likely not going to be bothered by Ada-Hi (I didn't stop in either direction). But it will set a fire to your thighs. The black rock lake trail was one that I wasn't going to do. It's actually accessed outside of the actual park grounds gate. See the continental divide sign before you enter into the park? Turn down that road and follow the dirt road until you see a lake and parking lot to the left. Black rock lake trail is very serene, flat, and able to be taken by little kids, dogs, and likely bikes (though I didn't see any bikes on my time here). Wildlife are all over the place, from fish, to frogs (which you'll constantly hear), to yes, bugs. Take every opportunity to go down the stringer trails off of black rock lake trail that lead you to the lake on your right, to get a closer view. It's worth it! Less than a mile, it's down right easy, but several mountain and lake views make this much more impressive a trail than I thought it would be. The "Hidden" waterfall trail access via the Black Rock Lake trail actually is a portion of the James E. Edmonds trail. As you take on the Black Rock lake trail from the parking lot, when you come to the first wooden walkway (assuming you took a left from the parking lot away from the lake), follow the natural path that's to the left of the wooden walkway and follow it. You'll immediately come upon two rickety wooden walkways and a series of orange worn out blaze markers. This trail is about 0.9 mi round trip, and you'll pass a total of 4 wooden walkways before walking up a slight hill and hearing/seeing the smaller waterfall. It's a nice find, and not a difficult trail, although this trail has you wondering if you're going the right way at times, as I passed a few people who had turned around and gave up their search. Beautiful park that offers a little bit of everything. Both strenuous and long trails for experienced hikers, to meandering and short trails for the family. If you're close to Black Rock Mountain State park, take a little time and visit this park!

Black Rock Mountain State Park is the highest state park in terms of elevation. That was enough for me to want to come here. I checked out online which trails to take and I opted for the shorter ones cause of time before heading off to other hiking destinations in the area. It cost $5 to get in because of it's a state park but if you want to get the annual pass, it is $50. Stopping for a bathroom break at the visitor's center is a great idea. Little did I know that the overlook next to the visitor's center is sooo gorgeous and wide. This is the view I wanted. I went to Blood Mountain a few weeks prior and the view wasn't as gorgeous there as it is at Black Rock Mountain. Plus there is no hiking required to get this view! I am a fan! I loved it! The view is so wide that you cannot capture it all in a photo. Yeah, seriously. The map to the trail is confusing. I got lost trying to find Ada-Hi Falls trail and couldn't find it. I kept going north so I went back to the visitor's center to ask for directions. Apparently, a lot of people get confused with the map directions too. The map actually shows the visitor's center north instead of south like how it has so I would have to go out and go south pass the visitor's center to get to Ada-Hi trail. The parking lot there is very small. I got there and there were cars that did not know how to park and took up 2, even 3 parking space! How rude! Regardless, I parked and got out to hike. Ada-Hi Falls trail is only .25 miles but it is considered strenuous because of the stairs and incline coming back up. Just think, Tallulah or Amiacola Falls. What got me was the "waterfall" as you would call it was very disappointing haha. I mean, given that there was very little rain the prior days. I felt that I did that hike to see that view? Hmm okay haha but I did have a great workout :) There's a little visitor's center across the Ada-Hi Falls and met with this sweet lady who often comes to Black Rock Mountain who suggested to go on the lake trails since it's a nice view and can do it in an hour or less. It is a drive there too, away from the main entrance which confused me too. She said to go down south and will hit Taylor Gap Road and will be on a gravel road there with a parking lot. Found it! The trail is only .85 mile and it is flat all the way, no elevation gains but beautiful view of the lake, definitely completed it in less than an hour for sure. It was a gorgeous day! I am glad I came to check out this trail too. Black Rock Mountain State Park definitely is gorgeous but can be confusing cause of the map and many places are away from the main gate and visitor's center. Maybe next time will camp there or take the longer trails. 76/2017

Stunning views right from your car! Handicap accessible!!!! Great over looks. Love the gift shop Cabins & campsites (small campers only) have stunning winter views! We always bring our company to Black Rock State Park & they're always impressed. Nobody does state parks like Georgia!!!

Standing at the crest of Black Rock Mountain felt like standing in an amphitheater for angels watching God perform! There isn't a bad seat in the house and the world is laid before you like a giant stage. I've been to a lot of mountain peaks. I can tell you most any of them will give you a sense of awe and majesty. But usually there are other mountains in the close distance which makes the scale of where you may be standing difficult to comprehend. But when you stand on a mountainside where there seems to be nothing but open lands before you as far as the eye can see, well, scale becomes magnified! Suddenly everything about where you are standing seems grand. Black Rock Mountain feels like that! Black Rock Mountain sits at an altitude of 3,640 feet. Not very tall compared to mountains out West, but it is said on a clear day you can see upwards of 80 miles. Several hiking trails are available including the 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Trail, the 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail, the .85-mile Black Rock Lake Trail and the strenuous Ada-Hi Falls Trail. That particular trail is less than a quarter of a mile, but the elevation change is a brutal 220 feet over that short distance. Other points of interest here include the beautiful Summit Visitors Center, a wooden overlook along the drive up the mountain, 17-acre Black Rock Lake, a waterfall, 44 tent/RV/trailer sites, campsites, 10 cottages, multiple picnic areas (2 w/covered shelters) and a children's playground. FINAL THOUGHTS As I mentioned in recent reviews, I've been feeling a little overwhelmed with the busyness of life and decided to do a solo trip to the mountains just to re-center myself. Black Rock was the first stop of many mountain vistas on this day, but it was probably the most special. The enormity of the views oddly seemed to bring life into perspective. I was especially pleased because it was not a place I'd previously planned to visit, but while driving I noticed a directional sign for the mountain and decided on a whim to follow it. My decision to make the detour after seeing the sign took all of 1.57896 seconds and I questioned that decision all the way up the mountain. Would it throw me too far off course? Would it somehow hamper my ability to get where I was going on time? My structured nature often times comes with anxiety to stay on task, perform as expected and get as much completed with the time I'm given as humanly possible. Black Rock was just what I needed, because after seeing the views, I suddenly felt inspired to relax and just enjoy the moment. We as humans struggle in the valleys of life, surrounded by so many large obstacles and challenges that it truly is sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees. Our internal navigation can occasionally get stuck "recalculating" and for brief moments we feel lost. But every now and then we reach a higher place where not only can we see just how far we've come, but also clearly where we are going. It is not your final destination, but instead one of those critical reminder points meant to encourage you to continue pressing forward. The rush I felt to hit all of my goals faded as I sat looking out over the vast valley before me and for the remainder of my day, all I wanted to do was just be. No rules, no structure, no anxiety... just freedom to be me. 2016/130

What not to like about national parks? Nothing. After hiking at numerous parks in Georgia, I have not encountered a bad trail or park. I first hiked through Black Rock Mountain in 2015 and fell in love with the rigorous trail and breathtaking view that the Edmonds trail offered. After 2 years, I decided to come back and conquer the Edmonds trail once again, and I discovered that nothing has changed---the trail is as intense I remembered it---with steep inclines and declines--but the view at the top is the same---Just simply beautiful. For this time, we decided to hike the Edmonds trail, going up the East Fork first and head down on the West Fork and do a loop around the quaint Black Rock Trail (highly recommend this, it was a very short and easy trail, and the beautiful view made it that much more enjoyable). PARK FEE: Please go to the visitor center or pay in cash at the entrance when you come here. The fee is only $5 and it helps maintain the park and trails so that we can continue to enjoy hiking it. Overall, another awesome trail and park in GA. Highly recommend. Just remember to bring plenty of water, or bring water bottles since there is a refill station at the visitor center. Bring snacks or lunch too!

there are great views but there were so many people and when we pulled up to the Entrance the guy in the shack said we had to pay even though we hadn't gone thru the tollgate. He said on busier days they setup miles down the road to collect parking fees so we had to pay just to turnaround. So rather than make a stink we paid the a-hole and used the restroom and promised myself I will never come back. I've been here at least 10 times and I've never had a bad encounter with Park staff, but that arrogance was too much.

Our family attempted to head to the summit for #Eclipse2017, but ended up at Black Rock Lake/Dam instead. We turned off of 23 just before 7am to get in the line. We were about 1.8 miles from the entrance when we joined the line. After about 45 minutes of that, when we'd made it maybe .3 miles, my dad and I decided to check out the situation. 170 cars in front of us, after passing the park sign saying the summit was 1 mile away and the Continental Divide sign, we talked with the ranger. He informed us that car was #75, and they expected to be able to fit about 150 in the park that day. They'd closed a lane of traffic and they were having people park on the side, not in designated spaces. After finding a slightly secluded spot in the woods (the ranger recommended that since we were still a ways away from the restrooms), we headed back to our car. By now, a lot of the cars were getting out of the queue and pulling onto the wider parts of the shoulder or paying the nearby homeowners to park in their driveways. We attempted to get into the park anyway, since we had our kids and my parents and lots of stuff that was not packed in a way to hike long distances. We tried parking on the side ourselves when the ranger came through on his golf cart saying the park was full, but I'd heard from Georgia B about Black Rock Dam, so I cut through the woods and ran down the hill to find it. Black Rock Lake, created by Black Rock Dam, has a small paved parking lot with a honor system paybox and a port-a-potty. Success! We found a spot on paved road and in the shade. The Lake has a .85 mile trail around it with a few wooden bridges, benches, a dock, and wooden walkway on the northeast shore, and some nature signs along the way. The dam is an earthen dam with a concrete inlet valve out in the water. No swimming, but fishing is allowed (with proper permits) and more than one person had a kayak. People set up viewing spots all around the lake, with the majority on the embankment of the dam. We contemplated hiking up to the summit, but decided that seeing it over the water would be interesting. We walked all the way around the lake trail, which was well maintained and relatively flat. My oldest got stung by 3 yellow jackets, so do be aware that they are in the area, particularly between the embankment and the parking area. There was a DNR officer keeping an eye on things (and the eclipse of course). There were Friends of Ga State Parks selling water and snacks in the parking lot for $1 as a fundraiser. Several people had extra eclipse glasses that they were offering for free or a small fee to recoup their cost. When totality had ended, everyone packed up as soon as they could. The DNR officer encouraged us to continue down the road, instead of back up towards the summit. It made for a slightly longer loop back to 23, but I think we ended up beating some of the cars that were headed down from the summit, as that line was still quite long when we passed it. I look forward to returning to see the summit.

Black Rock Mountain State Park is awesome! They have several science overlooks of the mountains which are amazing. They also have many hiking trails. The employees in the gift shop were pretty nice.

Great park! Loved the trails and overlooks and will be back for a cottage or to camp that's for sure!!

Very beautiful park, however I would only camp here in a tent or small camper. We traveled up in the dark on a Friday night pulling a 26ft to. Read about the experience and lots of pictures to view on my blog. https://imaginecamper.com/2018/05/14/black-rock-mountain-state-park/

Great park if you want to hike! Wonderful views, hot water. Check out the visitor center for the best view. Also, if you have a camper and are there with friends check out site 37/38. Very nice.

Lot of people like it. Good park. People who visit me at work seem to like it just fine. I grew up here and don't appreciate the beauty of this county because I'm used to it and I kind of take for granted.

You may have heard that Black Rock Mountain State Park took damage during the April 27, 2011 storms. There are a lot of trees down but no major damage to any buildings or facilities. The park was back up and running when we visited a month later. Just the trail to the falls and the amphatheater were still closed. This park sits right on top of the mountain where the weather is cool even in the summer and the rodedendron are amazing in the spring. It's also known for a proliferation of wildflowers which my wife and I photograph. The hiking trails are excellent. The 2.2 mile Tennessee Rock trail follows grade around the mountain so it's not too strenuous although it does cross the top of Black Rock Mountain for some great views. Other trails in the park can be much steeper so get advise from the rangers if you aren't really in shape. We love the campground here - but it can be tough on large RV's. The road up the mountain is well paved but very steep and narrow with lots of twists and turns. We have a 19 foot travel trailer - I can't imagine doing this road in a long Motorhome, but people do. The campground is on top a mountain - so all of the sites are small and pretty close to each other (I think another reviewer was talking about the tent only site that is down on the side of the mountain with widely spaced site). There are about 6 sites sutable for large motorhomes or 5th wheels. 75% of the campers at Black Rock seem to be tenters. But all the sites are level (gravel) with fire rings, lantern stands, nice picnic tables. They have Great restrooms - fairly new, clean with good showers. They have cable TV here but I swear I don't know why anyone goes camping to watch cable. The staff and volunteers are great, friendly and knowledgable. There is a new (as of 2011) meeting building with stage and kitchen that would make this a great place to hold a retreat or RV rally. If you camp here you're only a few miles from the Dillard House for an excellent country meal (look it up on Yelp and read my review). We also Love Osage Farms produce stand on the side of hwy 441 just north of the park - they have amazing fresh produce grown right there.

We were staying in the area and decided to drive up the mountain to take in the view. The fall leaves were outstanding. We may have been a little early, but still worth the trip. There are several trails that you can hike and a couple of places you can stop and take in the view. There is a great place at the top of the mountain that you can look out and see several other mountains and the town of Clayton. They also have campgrounds and cabins for rent.

Nice and cool on the fourth of July weekend. Not crowded (unless you count the daddy longlegs in the bathroom). Nice secluded campsites. Not well maintained on our visit. Fire rings full of ash. Bathrooms skeevy. Firewood purchased at the trading post not at all seasoned. Expensive.

We made a side trip to Black Rock Mountain on our way to North Carolina. First of all, don't listen to your GPS if it tries to take you up the mountain on Cross Street. It takes you through neighborhoods and private property and it turns into a gravel road which is hard for a car to negotiate. Go down the road on 441 until you see the signs directing you to the park using Black Rock Mountain Parkway. We stopped at Blue Ridge Outlook and the Black Rock Outlook, both had very good views of the surrounding terrain. The park rangers seemed very nice and helpful.

Visited this state park during a massive wave. Though temps were extremely hot they were tolerable due to the elevation and breezy evenings. The check in was far from smooth. The lady didn't know how to use credit card machine and she didnt appear to know that much about the park. Our reservation was not correct either since we added a day. They have pot luck dinner on thursdays. My group didn't participate but this is a pretty cool idea. The campsites are pretty small and very close to each other compared to other state parks. The camp host and other campers we met during our stay were very friendly and made the trip more enjoyable. This is a pretty large park with some quality hiking and great overlooks of the neighboring mountains. I likely will return in the future but have enjoyed other parks more.

The big attraction for a tent camper is the temperature is ten degrees cooler than the bottom of the mountain and twenty degrees cooler than most of the rest of the state. Camping in July is actually pleasant. The qualifier there is IF it is not raining. You can be up in the clouds if rainy weather is rolling through. Everything that can get wet will get wet and stay that way. Think rain forest. As for the campsites, they're small. The sites in the RV area are a little larger. The sites in the tent area are big enough for one tent. You can't really get your tent far enough away from the fire, so build a small one. We have stayed in both and think the way to go is to get two tent sites. Cook and chill on one. Sleep at the other. The big down side to the tent sites is dealing with bear safety. There are bears. You need to tote all food down to the parking lot and lock it up in your vehicle every night. If you don't you might come nose to nose with a bear. You will have a coon in the camp if there is anything for them to eat. The tent sites are quieter and have less traffic. Noise is an issue at Black Rock. In the RV area there is a good amount of traffic from campers and staff on their carts keeping an eye on things. More noise comes from town. It is amazing how far you can hear someone's dog barking from their yard at the bottom of the mountain. Otherwise, the park is nice and clean. Hiking and hanging out are about all there are to do on the park itself. There isn't even a playground anymore, so you have to bring your own entertainment. *There are clothes dryers at the bathhouse. This is important because you may not be able to hang towels, etc. out to dry due to being in the clouds. Bring quarters.*

Beautiful views! This place is tucked away off of 441. We didn't stay at the cabin just had a picnic there but it was a beautiful drive up and worth checking out. Would be a nice place for a reunion or a family get together.

What an experience! Honestly, likely the most breathtaking view I have camped at (overnight) in the US. The visitor's center is very nice, has the best view along the rock structure and camp grounds are anally, meticulously watched over. Sites are well-spaced out, and roads maintained well. You may want to plan on bringing an SUV or truck to reach the sites; roads are difficult to navigate if you are a novice or in a minivan that can bottom out. Worth the view and moderate cost, will visit this site again some day!